Category: MLB

Sacramento A’s pitcher Jefferey Springs was dealing all game long shutting out the Texas Rangers through six innings. Springs was lifted after the sixth inning at Globe Field in Arlington on Thu May 1, 2028 (AP News photo)

A’s Depart Arlington On Sweet Victory Airlines

By Mauricio Segura

Jeffrey Springs may have had a rocky April, but May started off with a gem. The left-hander turned in a sharp six-inning outing, and the A’s bullpen slammed the door behind him as the green and gold shut out the Texas Rangers 3-0 on Thursday afternoon at Globe Life Field. With the win, the Athletics clinched their second consecutive series victory and moved one game above .500 for the third time this season, now standing at 17 and 15.

Springs entered the game having allowed 13 runs over his previous two starts. But against his former club, the Rangers, he was locked in. He scattered four hits across six innings, walked two, and struck out three. Most importantly, he kept the Rangers off the board. It was a much-needed rebound performance from a pitcher who had been shelled for seven runs just five days prior.

Backing him up was a bullpen that has grown into one of the team’s biggest strengths. Mitch Spence, T.J. McFarland, Justin Sterner, and fireballer Mason Miller combined for three scoreless innings to seal the victory. Miller, touching triple digits on the radar gun once again, notched his ninth save in as many tries and struck out Marcus Semien to end it.

Offensively, the A’s didn’t need a home run to do their damage, a rarity for a team that ranks fifth in the majors in long balls. Instead, they pieced together a series of timely hits. Miguel Andujar, continuing his torrid stretch at the plate, drove in the game’s first run with a single in the opening frame. Jacob Wilson, the club’s hottest rookie, added an RBI single in the seventh to make it two to nothing. A sacrifice fly by Luis Urías in the eighth brought Brent Rooker home and capped the scoring.

Wilson finished with two hits, pushing his average to .325, good for eighth in the league. Andujar is now batting .338 over his last 18 games and looks every bit the consistent presence the A’s were hoping for when they picked him up.

Though the A’s managed only three runs, they made them count. They left just five runners on base and executed a rare outfield-assisted double play to end the second inning, erasing a walk by Semien and halting any early Texas momentum.

Rangers starter Tyler Mahle, who entered with a sparkling 1.14 ERA, saw that number creep upward after allowing two runs on seven hits over six and a third innings. He took the loss, dropping to 3-1.

This win marks six victories in the last nine games for the A’s, who now hit the road to face Miami. For a team that started the season 6-10, their recent surge has them tied for third in the AL West and just two and a half games back of division-leading Seattle.

If Springs’ bounce-back and the bullpen’s dominance are signs of things to come, the A’s may finally be rounding into form.

Costa Rican-born Mauricio Segura has been covering sports in the Bay Area since 2001 for a variety of magazines and newspapers, as well as his own publication, Golden Bay Times.

Sacramento A’s pitcher Luis Severino is all fired up after striking out the Texas Rangers Jake Burger in the bottom of the third inning at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Wed Apr 30, 2025 (AP News photo)

A’s Rooker and Butler Saddle Up Deep In The Heart of Texas for 7-1 win

By Mauricio Segura

For eight innings, the A’s and Rangers were locked in a tense, low-scoring tug of war that hinted at extra innings. But in the ninth, Lawrence Butler slammed the door on that idea, and kicked it right off its hinges.

With one swing, Butler delivered the green and gold a defining moment in their young season, a grand slam to straightaway center field, the exclamation point on a six-run ninth inning that propelled the Athletics to a 7-1 victory over Texas at Globe Life Field.

The late-inning fireworks began modestly enough. Tyler Soderstrom led off with a single and was lifted for pinch-runner Seth Brown. Brent Rooker, quiet for most of the evening, then launched a go-ahead two-run homer, his eighth of the season, to give the A’s a 3-1 lead.

That alone would’ve been a satisfying turn for a team that entered the game averaging just 2.5 runs over its last four contests. But the A’s weren’t finished.

After a Shea Langeliers single and two walks loaded the bases, Butler stepped to the plate with two outs. He fell behind in the count, then crushed a 2-2 pitch to dead center, clearing the wall with authority and igniting a boisterous celebration in the A’s dugout.

Butler’s fifth homer of the year capped a redemptive night for the 23-year-old, who had entered the game 1-for-8 in the series with four strikeouts. The blast also marked the first grand slam of his career.

Until the ninth, both teams had struggled to cash in on scoring chances. Starter Luis Severino battled through six innings, scattering nine hits but limiting the Rangers to just one run. He escaped a bases-loaded jam in the third and left with the game tied 1-1, thanks in part to crisp defense behind him, especially third baseman Gio Urshela, who snuffed out a Josh Jung chopper with a highlight-worthy play in the fourth.

Severino, who has yet to surrender a home run on the road this season, extended his scoreless streak away from Sutter Health Park to 14 innings. The A’s bullpen, a mixed bag of youth and redemption stories, held the line from there. Justin Sterner, Grant Holman, and Tyler Ferguson combined for three shutout frames, with Ferguson recording the final three outs for his first save of the year.

Jacob Wilson, who entered the night hitting .321, contributed a third-inning RBI bunt single to open the scoring, a rare small-ball spark from a team that ranks among the league’s best in slugging. That early lead was erased by an Adolis García RBI in the fourth, but the Rangers failed to score again despite putting runners on in nearly every inning after.

The victory pushes the Athletics above .500 and continues their trend of tight late-game wins. Four of their last five victories have come by one run or in late-inning surges. While they still rank near the bottom in run differential and defensive miscues, it’s clear they’re not short on the never-give-up attitude.

Next up: left-hander Jeffrey Springs (3-3, 6.04 ERA) taking the mound against Rangers righty Tyler Mahle (3-0, 1.14 ERA). If tonight was any preview, the A’s are bringing firepower, even if it takes eight innings to light the fuse.

Costa Rican-born Mauricio Segura has been covering sports in the Bay Area since 2001 for a variety of magazines and newspapers, as well as his own publication, Golden Bay Times.

Sacramento A’s catcher Shea Langeliers is way in front of the plate to put the tag on the Texas Rangers Wyatt Langford (36) in the bottom of the sixth at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Tue Apr 29, 2025 (AP News photo)

Rangers Two Explosive Innings Demolish The A’s 15-2

By Mauricio Segura

The green and gold were corralled and roped off by the Texas Rangers Tuesday night, as Texas unleashed an 11-run sixth inning en route to a 15-2 hot iron branding of the Sacramento Athletics at Globe Life Field. What began as a quiet duel between two evenly matched AL West squads quickly turned into a Texas-style blowout, snapping the A’s modest two-game win streak and dropping them back to an even 15-15 on the season.

Left-hander Jacob Lopez, making his first start of the year for the A’s, navigated early trouble but unraveled in the third inning. After walking a tightrope through two innings, Lopez surrendered three straight run-scoring singles to Jake Burger, Leody Taveras, and Jonah Heim, allowing Texas to build a 3-0 lead. The Rangers added another in the fourth and then torched the A’s bullpen in the sixth leaving just smoldering ash in their wake.

That inning alone saw the Rangers send 13 men to the plate. Marcus Semien got it started with an RBI single, followed by a bases-loaded, bases-clearing double from Adolis García. Rookie Wyatt Langford followed with a three-run double of his own, and Josh Smith capped the barrage with his second RBI single of the night. By the time the dust settled, the A’s had used three pitchers and watched an 0-4 deficit balloon to 0-12.

Shea Langeliers finally gave the Athletics something to cheer about in the seventh, launching his sixth home run of the year, a two-run shot to left. It was Langeliers’ 11th career blast against Texas, and his seventh at Globe Life Field, both the most he’s had against any opponent and in any visiting ballpark.

Unfortunately for the A’s, those were the only runs they could muster against Texas starter Jacob deGrom and reliever Dane Dunning, who combined for ten strikeouts and just five hits allowed.

The loss overshadowed several recent bright spots for the A’s. They entered Tuesday having won five of their last six and leading the season series against Texas 3-1. They also boasted the best road record in the majors, but now face the challenge of bouncing back with two games left in Arlington.

Jacob Lopez, despite showing promise in prior relief outings, lasted just 2.2 innings and was tagged with his first earned runs of the season. The bullpen, solid in recent weeks, was shelled for 12 runs over 5.1 innings.

Langeliers’ homer was one of the few silver linings. Tyler Soderstrom, who leads the team in home runs, went hitless and saw his RBI total remain at 24. Lawrence Butler and Brent Rooker each had two hits, but the A’s struck out 11 times and grounded into two double plays.

The A’s will look to rebound Wednesday behind Luis Severino, who leads the majors in innings pitched, against Rangers right-hander Nathan Eovaldi. If the green and gold want to leave Texas with a winning road trip, it’ll start with stopping the bleeding in Game 2.

Costa Rican-born Mauricio Segura has been covering sports in the Bay Area since 2001 for a variety of magazines and newspapers, as well as his own publication, Golden Bay Times.

Sacramento A’s starter JP Sears deals to the Texas Rangers line up in the bottom of the first inning at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Mon Apr 28, 2025 (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Tony Renteria:

#1 Tyler Soderstrom’s double help beat the Texas Rangers at Globe Life in Arlington 2-1. The A’s starter JP Sears beat and just got by the Rangers 2-1.

#2 Sears who improved his record to 2-1 pitched 5 2/3 innings, surrendered one run and five hits in the first game of this three game series on Monday night. This was the first of a seven game road trip.

#3 The A’s surpassed the Rangers in the top of the fifth when Gio Urshela got on base with a leadoff double and Brent Rooker walked. Soderstrom at the plate ripped a single to the right field corner. It was Soderstrom’s 24th RBI for the season.

#4 A’s closer Mason Miller has 21 strikeouts and walked one batter in the first ten innings of work. Miller walked Marcus Semien to start the ninth inning but Miller got the next three batters out.

#5 A’s starter Jacob Lopez (0-0 ERA 0.00) gets the call for Sacramento who will be opposed by the Texas Rangers Jacob deGrom (0-1 ERA 3.33) first pitch 5:05pm PDT. Lopez has pitched in three games, going 4.1 innings and has five strike outs. The Rangers deGrom is pitching in his 11th year and this is his third year with the Rangers. deGrom has pitched in five games where the Rangers have won two games.

Join Tony Renteria does the A’s podcasts Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

The Texas Rangers Jonah Heim (28) slides into third base before the ball is thrown to Sacramento A’s third baseman Gio Urshela (13) in the bottom of the seventh inning on Mon Apr 28, 2025 (AP News photo)

Soderstrom’s Two-Run Double Sends Athletics Past Rangers 2-1

By Mauricio Segura

Continuing their knack for close calls, The A’s knocked out a 2-1 victory over the Texas Rangers Monday night in Texas. Rookie slugger Tyler Soderstrom delivered the decisive blow with a two-run double in the fifth inning, helping the Athletics surpass the .500 mark at .517 with a 15-14 record.

The game opened quietly with both teams trading zeros until the top of the fifth. After a leadoff double by Gio Urshela and a walk to Brent Rooker, Soderstrom stepped in and smacked a fly ball into right field. Rangers right fielder Adolis García tracked it down but could not prevent Urshela and Rooker from racing home, giving the A’s a 2-0 advantage. The hit gave Soderstrom his 23rd and 24th RBIs of the season, keeping him among the American League leaders.

Before Soderstrom’s heroics, the Athletics had scattered hits off Texas starter Patrick Corbin but failed to break through. Max Schuemann singled in the third and advanced to third base, but a strikeout and a groundout ended the rally. The A’s offense found its moment in the fifth, right before Corbin exited in favor of Jacob Webb.

On the mound, JP Sears, fresh off winning his previous two starts, once again demonstrated his reliability. Although Sears did not factor into the decision, he kept Texas scoreless through five innings, allowing just five hits and striking out five.

Sears has now maintained an ERA of 3.21 across his first five starts, continuing a season where he has walked just six batters in 28 innings. The southpaw also extended his streak to 44 consecutive starts without a wild pitch, the longest since Catfish Hunter back in the 70s.

After Sears’ departure, the bullpen kept the Rangers at bay despite a late surge. Jonah Heim, a familiar face to A’s fans, knocked in Texas’ lone run with an RBI single off JP Sears’ replacement, Mitch Spence, cutting the Athletics’ lead to 2-1 in the sixth. However, Spence, Tyler Ferguson, and finally Mason Miller locked things down.

Miller, who has converted all eight of his save opportunities this season, slammed the door shut in the ninth with a high-velocity performance that left Texas hitters grasping at air. Known for topping out at 103.7 mph and leading all relievers with a staggering 58.3 percent strikeout rate, Miller continued his early-season dominance by walking Marcus Semien but retiring the next three batters to secure the save.

There were also defensive gems worth noting. Max Schuemann made a sliding catch in center field to rob Adolis García in the second and followed it with a diving stop at third base in the ninth that helped extinguish a Rangers rally. Lawrence Butler contributed with a running grab in foul territory, while JJ Bleday, entering the game as a pinch hitter and staying on in center, showcased solid range with two putouts.

Offensively, Miguel Andujar stayed hot with two hits, continuing a stretch where he has hit .328 over his last 17 games. Jacob Wilson, who entered the night ranked 10th in the majors in batting average at .324, added a single and a sacrifice bunt.

The victory marked the Athletics’ fourth in their last five games, and they are now 8-5 on the road, the second-best road record in the majors. The green and gold are also winning the close ones lately, improving to 3-4 in one-run games after starting the season 0-4 in such contests.

The Athletics and Rangers resume their four-game series Tuesday night it’s Jacob vs. Jacob, the A’s will be starting Jacob Lopez (0-0 ERA 0.00) vs. Jacob deGrom (0-1 ERA 3.33) they are scheduled to take the mound for Texas at 5:05pm PDT in Arlington.

Costa Rican-born Mauricio Segura has been covering sports in the Bay Area since 2001 for a variety of magazines and newspapers, as well as his own publication, Golden Bay Times.